ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
World Premiere!
A FINE FEATHERED MURDER:
A MISS MARBLED MYSTERY
Directed by Cheryl Snodgrass
Now extended through August 13th, 2022 at The Chopin Theatre
Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 20th anniversary season with the world premiere of A Fine Feathered Murder: A Miss Marbled Mystery, by Artistic Director David Cerda*, directed by Cheryl Snodgrass. This wild whodunit inspired by everyone’s favorite female British mystery writer will play through August 13th, 2022 at The Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are currently available handbagproductions.org. I'll be out to review on June 23rd, so check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.
The production features ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Ed Jones*, Nicky Mendelsohn*, Michael Rashid*, Tyler Anthony Smith* and Danne W. Taylor* with Barbara Figgins, Michael Hampton, Max McKune, Shane Roberie, Elizabeth Rude, Coco Sho-Nell and Maria Stephens.
PHOTO CREDIT: The cast of Hell in a Handbag Productions’ world premiere of A Fine Feathered Murder: A Miss Marbled Mystery includes (top, l to r) David Cerda, Barbara Figgins, Sydney Genco, Michael Hampton and Caitlin Jackson (middle, l to r) Ed Jones, Max McKune, Nicky Mendelsohn, Michael Rashid and Shane Roberie (bottom, l to r) Elizabeth Rude, Coco Sho-Nell, Tyler Anthony Smith, Maria Stephens and Danne W. Taylor.
Handbag goes posh with Ed Jones* as Miss Jane Marbled, an unassuming spinster with a knack for solving murders. It’s a good thing because people drop dead wherever she goes. Join Miss Marbled as she visits her dear friend, the wickedly and ridiculously chic, Lady Violetta Fowler (David Cerda*) for the annual Fine Feathered Ball at the Fowler Estate, England’s largest poultry farm. All is well until murder shows up, unannounced, and, in the most brutal fashion. Poor unflusterable Miss Marbled is left to contend with a rogues’ gallery of suspects sure to delight audiences in the tastefully intriguing manner they’ve come to expect from Hell in a Handbag Productions.
The production team to date includes Pamela L. Parker* (Scenic Designer), Bill Morey and Beth Laske-Miller (Costume Designers), Liz Cooper (Lighting Designer), Danny Rockett (Sound Designer/Music), Hannah Dains (Props Designer), Keith Ryan* (Wig Designer), Sydney Genco* (Make-up Designer), Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppetry), Sammi Grant (Dialect Coach), Abby Teel (Production Manager), Spencer Douglas Clark (Assistant Director, Intimacy, Choreographer) and Drew Donnelly* (Stage Manager).
Please note: Handbag will continue to adhere to all city, state and federal COVID safety guidelines in place at the time of performance including, but not limited to, proof of full vaccination and masking at all performances.
*Denotes Handbag Ensemble Member
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Cast (in alphabetical order): David Cerda* (Lady Violetta Fowler), Barbara Figgins (Mrs. Hawk), Sydney Genco* (Gerta Rabe), Michael Hampton (Nigel Drake), Caitlin Jackson* (Vivian Birdsong), Ed Jones* (Miss Jane Marbled), Max McKune (Constable Hatcher), Nicky Mendelsohn* (Chick), Michael Rashid* (Garson), Shane Roberie (Lord Reginald Fowler, Inspector Byrd), Elizabeth Rude (Millicent Lark), Coco Sho-Nell (Treasure Abundance), Tyler Anthony Smith* (Charles Fowler), Maria Stephens (Prudence Peck) and Danne W. Taylor* (The Dowager Countess Edith Fowler).
Understudies: Kelly Bolton, Chad Gearig-Howe, Kristen Secrist, Ben Stacy and Robert Williams*.
Location: The Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago
Regular run: Though Sunday, July 31. 2022
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: $24 advanced general admission, $42 at the door, $62 VIP/reserved seating with drink ticket. Group rates $34 for 10 or more.
Tickets are currently available at handbagproductions.org.
About the Artists
David Cerda (Playwright) is a founding member and Artistic Director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, now celebrating its 20th year anniversary. As resident playwright, he has written many Handbag productions as well as acted in them. His play, The Drag Seed was recently produced at LaMaMa Experimental Theater and his Golden Girls Lost Episodes parody shows have been produced around the country and was featured in Golden Con: Thank you for being a Fan, the world’s first fan convention dedicated to all things Golden Girls at Chicago’s Navy Pier. As a Latinx queer individual, he is a proud inductee into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame and recipient of a Jeff Award for lifetime achievement for his 25 years (and counting) of work and service to the community. He lives in Chicago with his partner, Christopher.
Cheryl Snodgrass (Director) has most recently directed the remount of The Drag Seed and its move to LaMama in NYC. She first worked with HIAH as an actor, playing Bigger Lorraine in Caged Dames, but soon transitioned to directing. She has since directed Die! Mommie, Die!, Haywire, Rip Nelson’s Halloween Spooktacluar, SCARRIE The Musical, L’imitation of Life and The Birds. Cheryl has also assisted David in developing several scripts. Outside of HIAH, Cheryl has worked with playwright Jeff Goode for 35 years as a director, actor and producer. She directed the premiere productions of Poona the F*ckdog and Other Plays for Children (Trap Door), The Emancipation of Alabaster McGill (Studio Roanoke) and The Eight Reindeer Monologues (Brave Hearts). In the last five years, she’s directed three shows for The Foundlings – To the New Girl, Hoist, and The Eight. She directed two shows for Glass Glass Apple – Shadows of Birds and Lighthouses in the Desert and, finally, Who’s Holiday, for Penobscott Theatre in Bangor, ME.
About Hell in a Handbag Productions
Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.
